The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has announced funding of over €20 million to benefit rural towns and villages for the length and breadth of the country.

82 projects across the country were chosen to share in the €20.4 million funding, including the four projects in Co. Meath.

Kells was allocated €212,850 to transform an overgrown plot of council land into a cultural outdoor hub and biodiversity garden. Enfield received €500,000 to develop and refurbish the old parish hall into a usable space for the community. A further €250,000 has been allocated for the refurbishment of an old vacant cottage in Castletown for community use, including a coffee shop, while Clady Hall, Dunderry, is to receive €222,167 to bring it back into use as a community centre after its closure.

The investment is being provided under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme with a particular emphasis on the revitalisation of rural town centres, which is a key objective of the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First Policies.

“I am delighted to approve funding of over €20m under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The benefit of this funding will be felt the length and breadth of the country,” enthused Minister Humphreys.

“This is Our Rural Future in action, delivering at local level and making a real difference in our rural towns and villages”.

Minister Humphreys added: “There are more people living in rural Ireland than ever before. There are more people working in rural Ireland than ever before and there is more investment going into rural Ireland than ever before.

“These projects are all about making our rural towns and villages great places to live, work and raise a family. I want to thank the local communities who brought forward these proposals and I look forward to seeing work commence on many of these exciting projects in the near future.”

Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe said, “This funding is extremely welcome news for Meath, especially for residents of Enfield, Kells, Castletown, and Dunderry. These excellent initiatives will ensure our smaller towns and villages are more attractive and sustainable places to live, work, and play. In Meath, we have seen the many benefits of previous funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme; I am delighted today that even more areas in the County will benefit from further funding”.